Trans-a Formers

So, it was quite exciting to finally see it today, and we saw it at an incredible theater (in English) with a huge sound system. And you better believe that was loud since it was a Michael Bay movie. Overall I'd probably give it a 3 stars out of a possible 4.5. The action was incredible along with the special effects, but you could definitely tell that it was made so little kids could enjoy it too (get a whole new generation of folks hooked) with pretty stupid humor and an extra-simple storyline that if you think too hard, has plenty of holes. Also probably too long at 2 hours 22 mins, mostly filled with alleged "character development". Overall, I would say slightly disappointed, but then again the expectations for me were so high maybe would have been impossible to reach them? Enjoyment level may have been lower without the huge sound system. The cool part was it was only 35 RMB to see the movie - less than $5. Stay tuned for a whole entry about the money here, buying power, etc, possibly connect to a whole entry about eating/food here.

So, i'd like to take this opportunity to talk again about the age difference with most of the rest of my classmates here. Related to the above, a lot of them have never seen Transformers or even know what is it about. Vast majority of the group was born between 1987 and 1989, so that really is past their time. Its the Transformers for chrissakes! Then in the movie they had the classic Cars song "Drive" - which no one knew.
Also, a bunch of us bought some local pre-paid cell phones to keep in touch (only about $40, and since its on GSM band will work virtually anywhere with purchase of a local SIM card) and one time while we were in a group someone asked how to find out our balance. I told them to dial 867-5309 and they were like WAIT WAIT! SLOW DOWN! WHAT IS IT AGAIN??
I thought maybe they did not get the 80's song reference, so I told them its easy to remember just sing it - and I sang it in the tune of the song (although with me, "in tune" is pushing it), and still no one.
Last, and maybe most importantly - no one knows what a Zack Morris phone is!!!! (or have seen Saved by the Bell for that Matter). I should ask them if "up up down down left right left right B A Select Start" means anything to them?

Thats my little rant about that, but to tell you the truth - and most of you if you know me can attest to this - I really get a kick out of it! Its actually very cool to finally be older/allegedly wiser than the folks I am around.

Okay, so two paragraphs, and nary a word about China, Beijing, or Beijing University. Things have been going - just a ton of work to do, so kind of just trying to survive on that end. I vowed not to be some sort of bookworm because a big part of this experience is hanging with locals, checking out the city, etc, so maybe not doing the absolute most I could be, but why would I come all the way to the Harvard of China to do that? Also, as a total tangent, we taught my awesome language buddy today how to say "Fo Sho"
So excited - tomorrow we are seeing the Peking Acrobats - you remember the little guy from Oceans 11/12/13? Its all that kind of stuff.
Until next time...